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Vitters slugs third Arizona Fall League homer

Vitters slugs third Arizona Fall League homer

Josh Vitters may have lost his 11-game hit streak last time out, but he didn't let that bother him Saturday when he turned in his finest performance since Opening Day.

The first baseman went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored to lead the Mesa Solar Sox to an 8-5 Arizona Fall League victory over the Peoria Javelinas.

Vitters -- 0-for-5 against Scottsdale on Thursday -- singled and scored in the first inning, and he recorded his second base knock of the game with a single up the middle to lead off the third. The Cubs No. 5 prospect advanced to second base on a wild pitch before being picked off by Peoria catcher Adam Moore (Mariners).

In the fifth frame, Cubs shortstop Junior Lake and Vitters went back-to-back off Mets right-hander Eric Turgeon (0-1) to start the inning to give the Solar Sox a 7-5 advantage. Vitters, who raised his average to .355 in the victory, struck out looking in his final at-bat in the seventh.

The home run marked the first time Vitters had gone deep in 56 at-bats, dating back 14 games and more than three weeks since he went yard twice against Phoenix in a 12-8 loss in his first AFL game on Oct. 4.

Selected third overall in the 2007 Draft, Vitters hit .283 with 14 homers and 81 RBIs in 129 games with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League.

Eastern League midseason All-Star Xavier Avery (Orioles) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and outfielder Robbie Grossman (Pirates) added two hits, an RBI, a walk and a run from the leadoff spot to raise his AFL average to .381. Brandon Short (White Sox) went 1-for-4, extending his hit streak to a league-high 13 games.

Cubs reliever Marcus Hatley (1-3) picked up his first victory of the Fall League. He allowed one run on a hit over 1 2/3 innings, helping the Solar Sox improve to 11-12.

Peoria's Moore was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run, and Jedd Gyorko (Padres) reached base safely three times in a losing cause. The defeat dropped the Javelinas to 10-12.

Ashley Marshall is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.